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Biomedical subjects

J E Bauer

Publications and source records attributed to J E Bauer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Cholesterol-to-phospholipid ratio in whole sperm and seminal plasma from fertile stallions and stallions with unexplained subfertility.

Semen samples were collected from six fertile stallions and seven stallions with unexplained infertility. Percentages of motile sperm (77.5 +/- 11.3 versus 67.5 +/- 12.2, P = 0.2), and progressively motile sperm (70.8 +/- 13.6 versus 60.7 +/- 14.0, P = 0.2) were similar between fertile and subfertile stallions, respectively. Morphologic characteristics in ejaculates of control and affected stallions (% normal: 60.2 +/- 18.2 versus 52.9 +/- 11.3, P = 0.4; % abnormal heads 7.3 +/- 4.8 versus 12.1 +/- 5.0, P = 0.11; and % abnormal acrosomes 1.6 +/- 2.1 versus 3.0 +/- 3.4, P = 0.4) did not differ. After incubation with the calcium ionophore A23187, acrosome reaction rate of sperm from fertile stallions was 96 +/- 2.8% whereas only 2.9 +/- 2.5% of sperm from stallions with unexplained subfertility had acrosome reacted (P < 0.001). Molar amounts of cholesterol and phospholipid in whole sperm and seminal plasma did not differ (P > 0.1) between fertile and subfertile stallions. However, the molar ratio of cholesterol-to-phospholipid was 2.5 times greater in the seminal plasma (P = 0.09) and 1.9 times greater (P = 0.009) in whole sperm of subfertile stallions compared to fertile stallions.

Acrosome Reaction↗

Weight loss effect of dietary diacylglycerol in obese dogs.

Obesity in dogs and cats have been increasingly recognized in recent years. Because obesity underlies various diseases, pet owners and veterinarians have an important responsibility to help animals lose weight and maintain their health. Diet therapy, however, is typically based on limited calorie intake and animals may suffer stress from hunger and this is also a concern to animal owners. For this reason, many clients drop out of weight control programmes. In the present study, we focused on dietary diacylglycerol (DAG) as a potentially effective ingredient for canine weight control without caloric restriction. We replaced a portion of the fat in dog food with either DAG or triacylglycerol (TAG), referred to as DAG or TAG diets here, and fed overweight beagle dogs (body condition score of 4 or higher) with either the DAG or TAG diet for a 6-week period. Results indicated that, even though the food composition other than fat type were identical, dogs fed the DAG diet showed a statistically significant reduction in body weight averaging a 2.3% reduction within 6 weeks while the TAG-fed dogs maintained their obese body weights. In addition, the DAG group also showed a reduction in body fat content, serum triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations. These results suggest the possibility of developing a pet food using DAG to control weight and serum lipid levels without compromising caloric intake.

Animals↗

Higher cigarette prices influence cigarette purchase patterns.

OBJECTIVE: To examine cigarette purchasing patterns of current smokers and to determine the effects of cigarette price on use of cheaper sources, discount/generic cigarettes, and coupons. BACKGROUND: Higher cigarette prices result in decreased cigarette consumption, but price sensitive smokers may seek lower priced or tax-free cigarette sources, especially if they are readily available. This price avoidance behaviour costs states excise tax money and dampens the health impact of higher cigarette prices. METHODS: Telephone survey data from 3602 US smokers who were originally in the COMMIT (community intervention trial for smoking cessation) study were analysed to assess cigarette purchase patterns, use of discount/generic cigarettes, and use of coupons. RESULTS: 59% reported engaging in a high price avoidance strategy, including 34% who regularly purchase from a low or untaxed venue, 28% who smoke a discount/generic cigarette brand, and 18% who report using cigarette coupons more frequently that they did five years ago. The report of engaging in a price avoidance strategy was associated with living within 40 miles of a state or Indian reservation with lower cigarette excise taxes, higher average cigarette consumption, white, non-Hispanic race/ethnicity, and female sex. CONCLUSION: Data from this study indicate that most smokers are price sensitive and seek out measures to purchase less expensive cigarettes, which may decrease future cessation efforts.

Adult↗

Identification and reduction of urinary aflatoxin metabolites in dogs.

Hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) is a phyllosilicate clay commonly used as an anticaking agent in animal feeds. HSCAS tightly and selectively adsorbs aflatoxin. In 1998, 55 dogs died in Texas after eating dog food containing aflatoxin (150-300 ppb). The corn in the diets was contaminated with aflatoxin. Six dogs were given a low-level, sub-clinical dose of aflatoxin B(1). On average, 71.5% of aflatoxin M(1) cleared within 6 h after dosing, increasing to 90.4% after 12 h. Aflatoxin M(1) was no longer detectable in urine after 48 h. Aflatoxin P(1) was not found in urine compared to large amounts of M(1) and trace amounts of Q(1). In a crossover study, six dogs randomly fed a commercial dog food (no-clay control) or coated with HSCAS (0.5% by weight) were subsequently administered a sub-clinical dose of aflatoxin B(1). Diets were switched and the process repeated. The HSCAS-coated diet significantly reduced urinary aflatoxin M(1) by 48.4%+/-16.6 SD versus the control diet. In conclusion, HSCAS protects dogs fed diets with even minimal aflatoxin contamination. Despite regular and careful ingredient screening for aflatoxin, low concentrations may reach the final product undetected. Therefore, HSCAS may provide the pet food industry further assurance of canine diet safety.

Adsorption↗

Riverine export of aged terrestrial organic matter to the North Atlantic Ocean.

Global riverine discharge of organic matter represents a substantial source of terrestrial dissolved and particulate organic carbon to the oceans. This input from rivers is, by itself, more than large enough to account for the apparent steady-state replacement times of 4,00-6,000 yr for oceanic dissolved organic carbon. But paradoxically, terrestrial organic matter, derived from land plants, is not detected in seawater and sediments in quantities that correspond to its inputs. Here we present natural 14C and 13C data from four rivers that discharge to the western North Atlantic Ocean and find that these rivers are sources of old (14C-depleted) and young (14C-enriched) terrestrial dissolved organic carbon, and of predominantly old terrestrial particulate organic carbon. These findings contrast with limited earlier data that suggested terrestrial organic matter transported by rivers might be generally enriched in 14C from nuclear testing, and hence newly produced. We also find that much of the young dissolved organic carbon can be selectively degraded over the residence times of river and coastal waters, leaving an even older and more refractory component for oceanic export. Thus, pre-ageing and degradation may alter significantly the structure, distributions and quantities of terrestrial organic matter before its delivery to the oceans.

Atlantic Ocean↗

Effects of dietary flax seed and sunflower seed supplementation on normal canine serum polyunsaturated fatty acids and skin and hair coat condition scores.

This prospective study involved supplementing 18 normal dogs with flax seed (FLX) and sunflower seed (SUN) and evaluating their effects on skin and hair coat condition scores and serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentrations. Skin and hair coat were evaluated in a double-blinded fashion using a numeric scoring system and serum PUFA concentrations were determined. Our hypothesis was that changes in serum PUFA concentrations are associated with improvements in skin and hair coat and that serum PUFA would provide an objective method for making dietary fatty acid supplement recommendations. Although a numerical improvement was found in hair coat quality in both groups, this improvement was not sustained beyond 28 days. The relative per cent of 18:3n-3 concentrations in serum phospholipids increased in the FLX treated dogs but these concentrations remained unchanged in the SUN treated dogs. Also, elevations in relative per cent of 18:2n-6 concentrations in serum phospholipids were seen in the FLX group. The ratio of serum polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids also showed a transient increase. These increases preceded the peak skin condition score peak value by approximately 14 days. It was concluded that a 1-month supplementation with either flax seed or sunflower seed in dogs provides temporary improvement in skin and hair coat. These changes appeared to be associated with increased serum 18 carbon PUFA.

Animal Feed↗

The effect of texturized vegetable protein from soy on nutrient digestibility compared to beef in cannulated dogs.

Texturized vegetable protein from soy (TVP) is widely used in canned dog foods, but its nutritional value remains in doubt. This study compared apparent prececal and total intestinal digestibility when four canned diets containing reciprocal proportions of protein from TVP (0 to 57%) and from beef (100 to 43%) were fed to eight cannulated dogs. As dietary TVP increased, the following linear changes were observed (P < 0.05): prececal and total intestinal protein digestibility decreased slightly from 77 to 71% and 86 to 80%, respectively; prececal amino acid digestibility decreased in parallel with protein; prececal carbohydrate digestibility decreased markedly from 80% to 62% and carbohydrate disappearance in the large intestine increased from 8 to 22%; prececal sodium digestibility decreased markedly (from 37 to 4%); and prececal potassium digestibility decreased (from 93 to 85%). Total intestinal digestibility of sodium and potassium decreased little (from 97 to 95% and from 98 to 97%, respectively); fecal mass and water content increased markedly (from 98 to 174 g/d and from 61 to 72%, respectively); and fat digestibility was unaffected. Prececal phosphorus digestibility from two diets containing TVP was lower than that from the all-beef diet (13 and 17%, vs 26%, P < 0.05). In conclusion, TVP is a useful source of protein in canine canned diets because amino acids from TVP are almost as digestible as those from beef in the canine intestine. Nevertheless, soy carbohydrate is poorly digested and large amounts of TVP inhibit small intestinal electrolyte digestibility and increase fecal water content.

Animals↗

The effect of texturized vegetable protein containing soy carbohydrate on oroileal transit of chromic oxide in cannulated dogs.

Texturized vegetable protein (TVP) from soy is widely used in dog foods but contains indigestible carbohydrate, which may affect intestinal transit. This study was conducted to determine whether TVP affects oroileal transit of the marker chromic oxide (Cr2O3). Four canned diets with Cr2O3 added were fed to eight cannulated mixed-breed dogs in a Latin-square design. The four diets contained reciprocal proportions of protein from TVP (0 to 57%) and from beef (100 to 43%). Ileal effluent was collected during wk 3 of each diet period, prececal apparent digestibility was measured on d 1 to 3 (eight dogs), and rate of appearance of Cr2O3 and chyme was measured on d 4 (six dogs). There was a postprandial delay before any chyme or Cr2O3 was collected, but from 2 to 8 h postprandially the rate of excretion was almost constant (approximately 11%/h). As TVP increased, mean prececal digestibility of protein and carbohydrate decreased from 77 to 71% and from 80 to 62%, respectively. Chyme excretion from 2 to 8 h postprandially increased from 5.8 to 8.3 g DM/h (P < .0001) as TVP increased but times for transit of Cr2O3 and appearance of chyme (as percentage total collected/hour) did not change. Mean times to first appearance and 15, 50, and 95% excretion were 76, 160, 347, and 707 min for Cr2O3 and 60, 147, 338, and 712 min for chyme, respectively. Mean Cr2O3 recovery was 93%. In conclusion, small intestinal transit of Cr2O3 was unaffected by increasing dietary TVP despite marked changes in carbohydrate digestibility.

Animal Feed↗

Foods and techniques for managing obesity in companion animals.

Management of obesity should initially involve assessment of the pet to rule out other possible medical problems and provide an accurate dietary history. It is essential to obtain a good estimate of the existing caloric intake, including calories from table scraps, pet treats, or other sources. Assessing the owner's willingness to make a commitment to a major lifestyle change for their pet is also an important part of any successful weight-reduction program. In some instances, this motivation can be linked to a recent, expensive bill for orthopedic or other procedures performed on their pet. Once a candidate has entered a program, calculated restriction of energy while maintaining protein, vitamin, and mineral intake should be recommended. It may be surprising to find out that the calculated amounts of food may be more than the amount a pet is currently being fed. In these animals, it is imperative to use a high-protein, obesity-management diet and not a low-protein, "light," or senior type of diet containing high fiber. If possible, treats should be restricted altogether and begging actively discouraged. Any snacks should be placed in the pet's feeding bowl so that an association between eating and the bowel become established. Of equal importance is use of a realistic exercise program that owners will encourage their pet to follow. Various products for weight reduction are available. Use of these specially formulated products to restrict caloric intake, while maintaining essential nutrient intake and increasing energy expenditure by playing and other activities, are the hallmarks of successful weight loss programs.

Animal Feed↗